February 14th. Valentine’s Day. The day we treat those we love to cards and candies that are intended to be signs of our love. Valentine’s Day is actually a very old practice, dating back to the Ancient Romans and one that evolved into a more romantic celebration of love. When the Hallmark company introduced Valentine’s Day greeting cards in mass production, the holiday truly began to explode. It’s supposed to be a day to celebrate love, for couples it’s expected to be incredibly romantic and often expensive and decadent. There’s a considerable amount of expectation that’s forced into an obligation on a day that has become more commercialized than truly celebrated.
Flowers, chocolates, special dinners are some of the ways we will choose to demonstrate our affections. All of these are wonderful things, and we should take the time to show our loved ones how much they mean to us. It’s also important – and definitely not selfish – to treat yourself on Valentine’s Day! There are a variety of ways to make sure that you recognize your own worth even as you do for the ones you love.
I think it’s a good idea to honor yourself in a way that is caring and fun, too. The important thing is to carve out that moment of self-care. A little bit of self-love can go a long way in helping us to feel good and when we feel good, we’re can be there for the loved ones around us.
Here are some suggestions for ways to treat yourself on Valentine’s Day.
Buy yourself flowers or chocolates.
A little chocolate goes a long way for me. I also love flowers. I don’t buy flowers often so there’s something so bright about a fresh bunch of flowers. The fragrant flowers and visual appeal lifts my spirits in the cold winter months.
Take 20 minutes to meditate.
Carving out a moment of quiet in our busy days can be hard, but at least on Valentine’s Day, give yourself that brief break. Find a meditation on your favorite music streaming service and take that time for a little self-care, to calm your mind and body. It sometimes makes all the difference in our attitude and perspective!
Grab a coffee and go for a walk.
Of course, weather permitting, but the fresh air will do wonders for lifting your spirits. It’s invigorating and movement is medicine. And the coffee will help you stay warm on that brisk February walk.
Try an at-home facial scrub or mask.
When we can’t make it to the spa, we can bring the spa to us. It’s not the same as the luxurious pampering a spa can provide, but a good facial scrub or mask can leave the skin (and our spirits) feeling invigorated. A little bit of self-care can go a long way in changing our attitude. Sometimes feeling good can help us to do better.
It’s not selfish to take a moment for yourself. Our lives are hectic and sometimes overwhelming and we need to carve out opportunities to pause, to breathe, and to take care of ourselves. Valentine’s Day is one day when we can treat the ones we love and maybe do a little something for us, personally, too.